I really hope you guys enjoy this one because it took me the most time to do. I read this book before War of the Worlds, but I worked so long on this review it was just easiest to read and review the other as a sort of break.
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. [P. 338]
Although A Canticle for Leibowitz was published as a book in 1959, parts of it existed years before that. The first part, now known as ‘Fiat Homo’ {‘Let There Be Man} appeared in 1955 and was entitled ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’. The second part, know as ‘Fiat Lux’ {Let There Be Light} was first published a year later under the title ‘And the Light Is Risen’. The conclusion to these stories was published in 1957 as ‘The Last Canticle’ (‘Fiat Voluntas Tua’ {‘Thy Will Be Done’}). These all appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
Since this book is essentially three different books, and can really be read separately (although I suggest that the reader read all three stories together), I will review each own individually.
Fiat Homo (‘Let There Be Man’)
The Order to Leibowitz is awaiting New Rome’s judgment on whether or not their founder (Isaac Leibowitz) is to be canonized as a saint. It was this one man who, during the times of darkness after the Flame Deluge (the atomic war that spurred the world into a rugged radioactive wasteland) set out to preserve learning and texts from a generation bent on ignorance. For trying to save educational materials, Isaac Leibowitz was burn and hanged at the same time.
Many years later, monks of the New Catholic Church have followed Isaac’s example and tried to preserve and copy materials which would help future generations learn from the past. One such monk is Brother Francis who, in the Utah desert, has made a miraculous discovery (with the help of an old man). For while on his Lenten retreat, he has discovered relics of the founder of his order, among which are the blessed blueprint and the sacred shopping list. Brother Francis hopes that these articles can bring a shinning light into an age of ignorance. However, they only bring him contempt and misfortune.
Fiat Lux (‘Let There Be Light’)
Many years have passed since Brother Francis’s discovery of the ‘sacred’ documents, and there is a rumor of war. The king of Texarkana begins the first steps to unite the entire continent under his own flag. However, this provides the king’s cousin, Thon Thaddeo, with the perfect distraction to safely traverse through the plains, unharmed by the barbarians who make them their home.
What the Thon seeks is a treasure guarded by the monk’s of the order of Leibowitz. But how will the monk’s receive the cousin of a genocidal monster?
Fiat Voluntas Tua (‘Thy Will Be Done’)
604 years have passed since the king of Texarkana waged a dishonest war against his neighbors, and the world has risen to heights not seen since before the Flame Deluge. There are space ships, automobiles, and once again rumors of war engulf the entire planet. However, this time enemies now have the means to destroy entire cities in a single flash of light. Radiation begins to take its toll on citizens and the moral question of whether it is better to assist in the suicide of ‘doomed’ patients or to allow them to suffer and die.
*Note: this book is especially intriguing because Miller seems to be arguing against assisted suicide, yet he eventually kills himself before finishing the sequel to A Canticle for Leibowtiz.*
All three of these books are extremely good and Miller’s usage of Latin terms is excellent. Of course, Miller could not anticipate the effect that Vatican II would have upon the Catholic Church (which would remove Latin from mass). What I liked most about this book were two individual characters. First, was the character known as ‘the pilgrim,’ Benjamin, and Lazarus. Even though only one name appears in its own individual book, they all represent the same person.
It is thought that this person was based upon the medieval legend of the ‘wandering Jew.’ According to this legend, when Jesus was carrying the cross, he paused at the threshold of a house. The owner of the house told Jesus to move on and Jesus sadly replied, ‘You move on too, until I come again.’ The householder was then forced to wander the earth, undying, until Christ would come again. Much the same, the pilgrim is a mysterious and cynical man who is forever waiting for someone who he calls ‘the one.’
Another character who made this book especially enjoyable was the Poet from [I]Fiat Lux[/I]. The Poet is a cynical man, who gets on the monk’s nerves, and he owns a glass eye that he likes to play with. For example, he scares Thon Thaddeo by taking it out at the end of a fight between the two men, places it on the table, and says, ‘watch him carefully.’
Many critics have claimed that Fiat Homo is the best book, but I enjoyed Fiat Lux the most. This was because of the two great characters and their additions to the second story. Also, the second is the most evident in portraying the book’s overall theme of knowledge verses morality. On the whole this book is exceptionally written with a wonderful storyline. I recommend this book to everyone, but I would like to stress the importance of having the Latin translations handy. They are easy enough to find on the internet.
